Ball with obstructing elements

ABSTRACT

A ball has a body and a plurality of obstructors arranged on the outer surface. In addition, an assembly includes a ball and a ball cover. The ball cover has an outer surface and an interior inside which the ball is retained, with a plurality of obstructors arranged on the outer surface of the ball cover. The obstructors function to impede the rolling motion of the ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to toys, and in particular, to a ball thathas its rolling motion obstructed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Balls are one of the most commonly-available and simple toys that haveever been created. Balls can be found almost everywhere, and even adultsand children can be found playing different games involving one or moreballs.

It can be difficult to find fault with balls. However, notwithstandingthe above, balls do suffer from one drawback. A ball that is tossed orkicked too far will continue to roll. A player must run or walk a longdistance to retrieve the ball.

This drawback becomes more apparent with balls that are intended to beused by young children, babies and toddlers. For example, soft ballsmade of plastic or foam are commonly found indoors and used by babies,toddlers and young children for a variety of games. Adults even usethese soft balls for executive toys (e.g., ball-toss games). When theseballs are tossed, they tend to roll along the floor, and sometimes rollunder or between furniture items. In any case, a parent playing theseball games with a toddler or infant may tire from repeatedly retrievingthe ball(s) in the house.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is an object of the present invention to provide balls that do notroll very far.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mechanism forimpeding the rolling motion of a ball.

In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, oneembodiment of the present invention provides a ball having a body, and aplurality of obstructors arranged on the outer surface. Anotherembodiment of the present invention provides a ball and a ball cover.The ball cover has an outer surface and an interior inside which theball is retained, with a plurality of obstructors arranged on the outersurface of the ball cover. The obstructors function to impede therolling motion of the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the ball of FIG. 1, the other side planviews of the ball being symmetrical.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ball cover according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ball cover according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratinggeneral principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball 10 of the present invention has abody 100 that can be made of any known material, including but notlimited to, plastic, leather, artificial materials, foam, rubber,bamboo, and other natural meterials. The ball 10 is generally spherical,although it can assume other shapes (e.g., oval like a football) aswell. The ball 10 can also have any desired size, for use with anydesired application.

The body 100 has a plurality of obstructors 15 provided on its sphericalsurface 20. The obstructors 15 function to impede the rolling motion ofthe ball 10, so that the ball 10 cannot roll very far after it has beenkicked or thrown. The obstructors 15 can be made from any of thematerials as the body 100, and can be provided in one piece with thebody 100 so that they can be inflated together with the body 100.Alternatively, the obstructors 15 can be solid elements (e.g., made ofplastic) that are fixedly or removably (e.g., by VELCRO™ pads 35)attached to the surface 20 of the body 100.

The obstructors 15 are illustrated as having a frusto-conicalconfiguration, having a generally conical body that terminates at a flattop end 25. The base 30 of the obstructors 15 has a greater diameterthan the flat top end 25. The height H of each obstructor 15 can be anyvalue, but in one embodiment, the height H is at least five percent ofthe diameter D of the body 100, and is preferably more than ten percentof the diameter D of the body 100.

The number, size, shape and arrangement of the obstructors 15 can bevaried depending on the desired results. As a general rule, the number,size, shape and arrangement of the obstructors 15 all relate to how muchimpediment is imparted on a rolling ball. For example, a symmetrical orconsistent pattern of a greater number of obstructors 15 impart lesserobstruction to the rolling motion of the ball 10 than an inconsistent orrandom pattern of a fewer number of the obstructors 15. As anotherexample, a random pattern of obstructors 15 (e.g., more obstructors 15on one side of the ball 10) will create more impediment than aconsistent pattern of obstructors 15. As further examples, a fewernumber of obstructors 15 with a greater height H, or providing theobstructors 15 with different heights H, will all create greaterimpediment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball 10 has six obstructors 15 arranged in amanner where two obstructors 15 are directly facing (i.e., opposite)each other, as best shown in FIG. 2. For example, FIG. 2 illustratesfive of the six obstructors 15, with one other obstructor (not shown)facing into the page on the other side of the ball 10, and beingopposite to the obstructor 15 shown in the spherical center of the ball10 (and facing out of the page).

Although the obstructors 15 are shown as having the same shape andsizes, the obstructors 15 can be provided with different shapes andsizes, depending on the desired use and results. For example, FIG. 3illustrates obstructors 60 having different shapes (e.g., circular,triangular, conical, etc.) and different sizes.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cover 50 that can be used with a conventionalinflatable ball 55. The cover 50 has a size and shape that conforms tothe size and shape of the ball 55. The cover 50 can be made of anyflexible material (e.g., fabrics, PVC, plastics, etc.), and can have aplurality of obstructors 60 attached (e.g., by glue, fusing, stitching,etc.) to the outer surface 65 thereof. The obstructors 60 can be same inconstruction as the obstructors 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the obstructors60 can have different shapes (e.g., circular, triangular, conical, etc.)and different sizes. An opening 70 is provided in the cover 50 whichprovides access to the interior space of the cover 50.

In use, a conventional inflatable ball 55 can be inserted through theopening 70 into the interior of the cover 50 while the ball 55 is in itsdeflated form. The ball 55 can then be inflated via its valve 75 untilthe ball 55 is fully inflated, and fits snugly, inside the cover 50.When the ball 55 is fully inflated, the combined ball 55 and cover 50will form a unitary object which is in essence the same as the ball 10.Thus, the combined ball 55 and cover 50 can be rolled or kicked as aunitary object, with the obstructors 60 functioning to impede therolling motion of the ball 55.

FIG. 4 illustrates another cover 50 a that is similar to the cover 50 ofFIG. 3, except that the cover 50 a is made of a netting or meshedmaterial. The cover 50 a is used with a conventional ball 55 in the samemanner as described above in FIG. 3, and has obstructors 60 a that areattached to the surface of the netting material. An opening 70 a is alsoprovided in the cover 50 a through which the ball 55 can be inserted.Thus, the combined ball 55 and cover 50 a can be rolled or kicked as aunitary object, with the obstructors 60 a functioning to impede therolling motion of the ball 55.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of thepresent invention, it will be understood that many modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claimsare intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the truescope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A ball, comprising: a body having an outer surface; and a pluralityof obstructors arranged on the outer surface.
 2. The ball of claim 1,wherein the body has a diameter, and wherein the obstructor has a heightthat is at least five percent of the diameter of the body.
 3. The ballof claim 1, wherein the body has a diameter, and wherein each obstructorhas a height that is at least ten percent of the diameter of the body.4. The ball of claim 1, wherein at least one obstructor has a generallyconical body that terminates at a flat top end.
 5. The ball of claim 1,wherein the at least one obstructor has a base which has a greaterdiameter than the flat top end.
 6. The ball of claim 1, wherein theplurality of obstructors comprises six obstructors arranged with eachpair of obstructors directly facing and opposite each other on the outersurface of the body.
 7. The ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofobstructors are provided in one piece with the body.
 8. The ball ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of obstructors are removably connected tothe body.
 9. The ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of obstructorsincludes obstructors having different heights.
 10. The ball of claim 1,wherein the plurality of obstructors includes obstructors havingdifferent shapes.
 11. The ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofobstructors includes obstructors having different sizes.
 12. The ball ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of obstructors are arranged in a randompattern.
 13. The ball of claim 1, wherein the plurality of obstructorscomprises more than three obstructors.
 14. An assembly, comprising: aball; and a ball cover having an outer surface and an interior insidewhich the ball is retained, with a plurality of obstructors arranged onthe outer surface.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the ball coverhas a diameter, and wherein the obstructor has a height that is at leastfive percent of the diameter of the ball cover.
 16. The assembly ofclaim 14, wherein the ball cover has an opening through which the ballcan be inserted.
 17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the ball cover isa netting.